PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nathan James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Trent Davis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Trent Davis is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

James
vs
Davis

200 cm
22
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

220 cm
22
260 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Attliction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Nathan James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Trent Davis!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Donald Grub and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James is looking to clinch.
James closes the distance and clinches up with Davis, looking for a takedown. James pushes Davis against the cage but Davis circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Davis defending well as James loads up on a big left hand.

James clinches with his opponent.

Davis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Davis shoots in looking for a takedown. James tries to sprawl out of it but Davis keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. James manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Davis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Davis keeps the fight on the outside.

James looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Davis!
Davis is wriggling around trying to escape.
James looking to control but Davis is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Davis is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis trying desperately to get to his feet.
James sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Davis sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Davis is looking to improve his position.
James slows the pace down in half guard.
Davis is staying active underneath James, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
James tries to pass to full mount but Davis defends it.
Davis wants to get back to full guard.
Davis looks gassed!
James wants to lay and pray for a moment but Davis keeps working.
James trying to control the pace.
Davis wants to improve his position but James is controlling well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

James gets a clinch.
James prevents Davis from breaking the clinch.
Davis looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Davis breaks from the clinch.
James fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James has taken the fight to the clinch.
James tries for a takedown but Davis manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathan James. That's going to take a lot out of him.

James breaks the clinch.

James darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Davis wants to get back to full guard but James has passed into side control.

James is standing up, even though he is in mount.
James's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and James duly obliges.
No luck for Davis with that takedown attempt.
James jabs at Davis's body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Davis looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Trent Davis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Davis avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

James closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Davis is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
James wants to lay and pray for a moment but Davis keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Davis tries to kick James off but James keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
James is keen to just control but Davis is a slippery customer.
Davis trying to control here.
Davis is trying to get back to full guard.
Davis trying to hold on to James's head to control him but James postures up.

Davis is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but James pulls his head out easily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

James closes the distance and clinches.
Davis on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan James dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

James throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
James tries to work over Davis's front leg with a kick but Davis checks it.
Davis finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Davis bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Davis shoots in and bounces James off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

James looking for a guillotine here but Davis defends easily.
Davis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. James swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Davis wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
James bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Davis's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davis looking for a sweep. Not yet Davis, not yet.
James controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Davis working a defensive guard here.
Davis is breathing heavily.
James wants to get up but he can't break Davis's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
James wants to control from the top but Davis keeps moving.
Davis has a closed guard, preventing James from standing up.
Davis doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
James wants to get up but he can't break Davis's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

James darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
James is thwarting Davis's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Davis manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
James wants to stand but Davis is controlling his posture from full guard.
Davis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
James passes Davis's left leg - he's now in half guard.
James trying to mount his opponent but Davis defends it.

James is working for a kimura but Davis is defending it quite comfortably.
James is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Davis!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James working for a submission but Davis is keeping him at bay.
James content just to control the position here.
Davis really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

James stands up from mount. Strange move.

James moves into the clinch successfully.
James leaning against his opponent.
Davis is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Davis prevents the takedown attempt.

Davis drags the fight down to the ground.
Davis doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

James drops back looking for a leg! Davis is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Davis manages to kick James off! James jumps back into Davis's guard.
Davis controls James momentarily but James frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Davis looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Davis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Davis is looking for a triangle but James pushes his legs off easily.
Davis manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Davis is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Davis tries to control but James wriggling away.
Davis unloading with bombs!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan James dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Davis tries to clinch there but James circles away.
Davis throws a combination but it was largely blocked by James.

Excellent takedown into side control there by James.
James has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Davis!
Davis tries to hold on but James pushes him away.
Davis is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Davis is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

James gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Davis.
Davis has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for James!
James slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James trying to hold on to Davis's head to control him but Davis postures up.
Davis prevents James from improving his position.
Davis is looking to advance position but James won't allow it.
Davis is trying to control the action in half guard but James is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Davis sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. James defending well though.
James trying to control from the bottom.
Davis slips a nice elbow through James's hands, connecting with James's forehead.
James won't allow Davis to pass to mount.
James is pressing down on Davis's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
James might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
James preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nathan James overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Davis wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
Davis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. James is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Davis stopping the sweep attempt from James.
Davis tries to free his leg and advance position but James is retaining full guard.
Davis with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

James is rocked!
James has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Davis has passed into side control.
Oh James is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Davis decides to stand back up.
James seems to have got his legs back now.
James stuffs the takedown attempt from Davis. Davis gets slowly back to his feet.
James shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Davis decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in James's guard.
Davis is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
James wants to stand but Davis is controlling the position.
Davis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James uses the cage to get back to his feet.

James closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - James lands in his opponent's guard.
James is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Davis is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Davis decides to return to a standing position.

Davis darts in and clinches James up against the cage.
Davis tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. James just stands there and leans against the cage.
James drops down looking for an ankle pick but Davis pulls his leg out and moves away.
Davis tries for a takedown but James circles away easily
and James counters with a series of strikes. Davis will be more careful next time no doubt.
Nathan James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Trent Davis.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Davis tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and James counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Davis's guard now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Davis working a defensive guard here.

Davis had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. James is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Davis Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take James's back instead.
James staying busy and making it hard for Davis to control.
Davis gets his hands free as James looks to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Davis is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Davis wants to control the position but James frees himself and scrambles - Davis manages to regain control in side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Trent Davis.
Well James has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathan James!